Part 5

The processes for the making of cork-board differ in many ways, widely divergent in principle. The corkwood waste and virgin cork are broken up and chipped in an ordinary iron mill as a preliminary to all processes; in one, claimed to be the best, this chipped material is poured into iron molds the desired shape of the slab, subjected to heavy pressure and run into an oven kept at about 800 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. This oven, being a low brick type, resembling a lear and heated by coal fires, the slab molds being drawn through on an endless chain, which runs at a speed to keep the cork in just long enough, for the resin in same to exude and bind the little particles together; the cork is also charred in this process, thereby converting it into a carbonized cellulose which makes it an excellent material for insulation. Steam-heated hydraulic presses are also used for making small tile, etc., being the same principle as above, without the charring.

The other process involves the use of tar, pitch or asphaltum, as a binder for the cork particles, and in one, the cork is mixed with a clay before being mixed with the asphaltum. The binder being heated in steam jacketed kettles, and in one it is mixed in the proportion of one to four, while in the other it is forced into the mass under pressure and then drawn out again by vacuum, both mixtures being poured into molds of the desired shape of the slab or in large molds, to be cut up after, and subjected to heavy pressure, the sawing being done by an ordinary rip-saw, cutting the block into any desired thickness of slab.

The above described processes do not include all of the various manipulations of corkwood, for there are innumerable things as stated under the “Uses” for which there is a necessity of mechanical operation, in their making; but the general processes are as stated and will cover most all.

EXTENT OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

The cork stopper industry had its permanent origin in Spain, in the Province of Gerona, town of Llacostera, towards the latter part of 1750 and was contemporaneous with the inception of the glass bottle, although corkwood was used many years before as a stopper for amphora, etc., as noted in a previous chapter.

The trade flourished there until wars and schisms rent the country and drove the industry to the mountains. There it slumbered and struggled for many years until the peace was restored and the people assured that the dangers were passed. Its revival was not very sudden, but slowly and surely it grew, and won itself a place in the trade life of Spain and finally became a necessity, so much so, that it began to attract attention and other countries sought to secure the secret. About 1828 the French agents at Catalonia found enough information to warrant them returning to France and there set up for themselves, the rivalry between the two becoming very keen, causing much excitement among the Spanish manufacturers; for up to that time they monopolized the trade and had a nice time of it. This lasted until 1849, when the trade assumed such proportions that both had all they could attend to and more. This insured a steady increase of the trade, and before long it assumed proportions that has surpassed the dreams of its founders. The industry spread until the raw material began to show a shortage due to the heavy demands made upon it. More frequent cuttings were compulsory to supply the market, and in consequence the grade became poorer.

The realization of this caused the Spanish Government to step in and protect the forests as a national necessity, and the result was the passing of laws to govern the cutting of corkwood from the trees. But the trade kept on growing in other countries and the raw stock was in great demand.

The result of the heavy exportation of corkwood again caused some notable alarm among the manufacturers and trades-workers in Spain and Portugal, but principally in the former, as most of the largest factories are located in its cities; so that the principal representatives of the cork industry convened at Madrid in December of 1911, at which convention resolutions were passed to urge upon the Government the necessity of imposing an export tax or duty on corkwood ranging from five to fifty gold pesetas ($.0965 to $9.65) per 100 kilos (220 pounds). By so doing it was thought to remedy the shortage in the home market.

The competition between the foreign and Spanish buyers for the raw corkwood output was largely in favor of the foreigner in 1911, owing to the unprotective export duties, and the result has been that the once flourishing national industry is now very badly handicapped for want of working material.

So simultaneously with the tariff revision, which went into effect on January 1, 1912, an endeavor was made to put in force the increase on export corkwood, but owing to the efforts of the American cork manufacturers, who have a great influence over the Spanish cork industry, the proposed increase did not meet with the desired success.

In the attempt to restrict the importation of raw material the Spaniards have failed, for its usefulness makes the demand too great and the foreigners have invaded the Iberian Peninsula and are now buying up even the raw stock on the trees. The corkwood markets are no longer confined to two or three, but extend round the world, the principal ones being: London, Paris, Rheims, Epernay, Maguncia, Dresden, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Buenos Ayres, Calcutta, Sydney, Melbourne and Yeddo. So it will be seen that a great demand is being made upon the forests, which must be cultivated for increased growth and production or an early investigation made for the growing of the trees in other countries.

Of course the industry remains very strong throughout Spain and Portugal, and particularly in the Andalusia District of Spain, where the manufacturing establishments play an important part in converting the corkwood into useful articles of commerce. The Spanish yield of raw material has remained slightly behind Portugal, but this does not affect the former’s influence in the trade. (See Appendix.)

It is inevitable that the greatest bulk of the trade should center around the countries in which the raw material is grown, for the greatest advantage is thus gained by those, so fortunate in their location.

But the spread of the corkwood’s fame has aroused others to action, and it appears as though the monopoly will suffer because of that fame. The demand grows daily, and the rapid growth of the American trade bids fair to being a very close rival to the long-established European manufactures at least.

The waste is rapidly assuming great importance and to this the newer entrant in the business is turning all his energy. The doctrine of conservation and utilization has been heeded by the corkwood industry and the waste is no longer such, rather standing as a cork product second only to the stopper, when the fact is considered that the grower or farmer receives about $58 per ton for raw corkwood and the waste sells from $22 to $32 per ton; its value is apparent.

A notable feature of the shipments from Spain is the waste and shavings, which doubled from 1906 to 1910, viz.:

1906 — 14,624 tons 1907 — 17,557 “ 1908 — 12,201 “ 1909 — 20,198 “ 1910 — 29,257 “

The uses to which corkwood may be put are unlimited, and as has been seen the uses already known are sufficient, in themselves, to make it a very important commodity. And yet when we speak of uses it is only those that have developed by reason of the corkwood’s own peculiarity that makes it the subject of discussion, and not the great number that it has been adapted to, for perhaps its utility will have no end, and in my estimation its particular qualities are but little appreciated. Of course its application as a stopper is ideal for that purpose, but it appears most certain that this wonderful growth is designed to be of greater service to man than the mere function of filling the neck of a bottle. Chemically, I think it has possibilities; the ancients found it useful in Materia Medica, and there may still be a use in this line. At any rate, it is the most wonderful bark of its kind, its service has been a long one, and its benefits, even as a stopper, have been many. A wonderful material truly, and of interest, so full that it seems I have failed to do it justice in these few words presented in my endeavor to describe the Quercus Suber of Linnæus.

APPENDIX

For those who may be interested in a few statistics of the trade is appended the following figures relating to the Spanish and American industry:

SPANISH INDUSTRY, 1912

There were 892 factories throughout Spain in 1912, in 107 towns and cities, divided as follows:

Seville District 305 in 48 towns Barcelona District 507 in 31 “ Other Districts 80 in 28 “

These factories employ approximately 40,000 people in the various branches of the industry at an average daily wage of 67 cents.

The raw material yield for 1912 is reported as: 7800 short tons, valued at $57.90 per ton to the grower, or $4,516,200.

It will also be of interest to show a few comparisons of values, for various years, in shipments to foreign parts, viz.:

1909 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════════╤════════════ Description │ Pounds │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────── Cork in sheets ............. │ 11,009,939 │ $405,366 Cork squares ............... │ 1,180,489 │ 265,610 Corks ...................... │ 11,960,760 │ 4,870,948 Cork shavings .............. │ 66,435,426 │ 363,563 Other manufactured cork .... │ 864,820 │ 40,656 │ ────────── │ ────────── Total .................... │ 91,451,434 │ $5,946,143 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════════╧════════════

1910 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════════╤════════════ Description │ Pounds │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────── Cork in sheets ............. │ 16,798,492 │ $618,489 Cork squares ............... │ 2,055,865 │ 462,472 Corks ...................... │ 14,924,052 │ 6,105,294 Cork shavings .............. │ 64,367,448 │ 526,642 Other manufactured cork .... │ 1,190,789 │ 57,382 │ ───────── │ ────────── Total .................... │ 99,336,646 │ $7,770,279 Corrected figures showing │ │ totals as ................ │ 109,336,646 │ $7,942,677 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════════╧════════════

1911 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════════╤════════════ Description │ Pounds │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────── Cork in sheets ............. │ 21,564,347 │ $741,029 Cork squares ............... │ 2,076,881 │ 467,298 Corks ...................... │ 17,817,037 │ 7,288,787 Cork waste ................. │ 73,510,473 │ 591,468 Cork, manufactured in │ │ other forms .............. │ 1,828,030 │ 89,723 │ ─────────── │ ───────── Total .................... │ 116,796,768 │ $9,178,305 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════════╧════════════

1912 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════════╤════════════ Description │ Pounds │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────── Corkwood ................... │ 17,928,000 │ $528,810 Cork squares ............... │ 1,492,000 │ 356,229 Corks mfrd.} │ │ {7,864,299 Cork waste } ............... │ 100,396,000 │ { 754,848 Other mfrs.................. │ 1,166,000 │ 49,783 │ ─────────── │ ────────── │ 120,982,000 │ $9,553,969 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════════╧════════════

The following is a comparison of the first six months of 1909, 1910 and 1911.

1909 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════╤═══════════ Articles │ Tons │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────┼─────────── Corkwood ................... │ 1,686 │ $158,644 Cork squares ............... │ 262 │ 129,646 Corks ...................... │ 2,624 │ 2,361,620 Cork waste and shavings .... │ 9,589 │ 172,604 Cork, other manufactures ... │ 211 │ 25,987 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════╧═══════════

1910 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════╤═══════════ Articles │ Tons │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────┼─────────── Corkwood ................... │ 3,157 │ $255,718 Cork squares ............... │ 485 │ 240,057 Corks ...................... │ 3,629 │ 3,265,760 Cork waste and shavings .... │ 13,935 │ 205,822 Cork, other manufactures ... │ 251 │ 27,133 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════╧═══════════

1911 ═════════════════════════════╤══════════╤═══════════ Articles │ Tons │ Value ─────────────────────────────┼──────────┼─────────── Corkwood ................... │ 5,129 │ $415,432 Cork squares ............... │ 442 │ 218,755 Corks ...................... │ 4,057 │ 3,669,075 Cork waste and shavings .... │ 18,143 │ 326,573 Cork, other manufactures ... │ 248 │ 32,657 │ │ ═════════════════════════════╧══════════╧═══════════

The statistics showing the shipments to various countries are for 1909:

══════════════╤════════╤═════╤══════╤══════╤═════╤════════ │ │ │ │Cork │Cork │ │ │ │ │Waste │ in │ Countries │Corkwood│Cork │Corks │ and │Other│ Total │ │Sqs. │ │Shav. │Forms│ ──────────────┼────────┼─────┼──────┼──────┼─────┼──────── │ Tons │Tons │ Tons │ Tons │Tons │ Tons United States │ 2,065 │ — │ 158 │ 7,594│ 280 │ 10,097 Great Britain │ 842 │ 4 │1,094 │ 7,539│ 38 │ 9,518 Germany ......│ 5 │ 18 │ 715 │ 4,555│ — │ 5,293 France .......│ 1,256 │ 276 │2,044 │ 189│ 56 │ 3,821 Italy ........│ 6 │ 79 │ 435 │ 11│ — │ 532 Belgium ......│ 164 │ — │ 136 │ 215│ 11 │ 526 Russia .......│ 463 │ — │ 1 │ — │ — │ 464 Aust─Hungary │ — │ 30 │ 346 │ — │ — │ 376 Argentina ....│ 164 │ 123 │ 57 │ — │ — │ 344 Other ........│ 40 │ 7 │ 426 │ 95│ 9 │ 575 ├────────┼─────┼──────┼──────┼─────┼──────── Total ........│ 5,005 │ 537 │5,412 │20,198│ 394 │ 31,546 │ │ │ │ │ │ ══════════════╧════════╧═════╧══════╧══════╧═════╧════════

AMERICAN INDUSTRY

In 1899, there were 62 factories in the United States of varying sizes and located in the following states: New York (Brooklyn), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Ohio. Employing 2340 wage earners. Importing a raw stock of $2,404,000, and making products valued at $4,392,000.

In 1904, the factories decreased to 50 in number, the wage earners increased to 2895, the imported raw material to $2,459,197 and the products to $4,490,952.

In 1909, the factories increasing again to 62 in number, the wage earners to 3142, the imported raw material to $3,435,000 and the products to $5,940,000: corks selling from 3 cents to 40 cents per pound.

This of course does not appear to be a very extensive business, but the nature of the commodity will readily convince that the money figures are not at all in comparison to the bulk of corkwood, for it would really seem that if the trade should increase to an amount sufficient to vie with other prominent ones, the ships would be at loss how to stow the other freight. The imports of corkwood into this country and the exports, for comparison, may be seen in the following tables:

IMPORTS

January │ Seven Months ending January │ 1912 1913 │ 1911 1912 1913 │ Corkwood, Free: │ $450,082 $367,884 │ $2,265,373 $1,849,550 $1,707,164 Corks mfrd., Dutiable: │ $181,252 130,580 │ 1,380,109 1,137,504 1,180,816 │

EXPORTS

│ Seven Months ending January │ January │ 1912 1913 │ 1912 1913 │ Corkwood, Free: $1,518 $1,195 │ $19,795 $22,393 Corks mfrd., Dutiable: 209 1,086 │ 3,078 2,170 │

And the periods ending December, 1913 will be of interest also.

IMPORTS

December │ Twelve Months ending December │ 1912 1913 │ 1911 1912 1913 │ Corkwood, Free: │ $300,253 $468,937 │ $3,819,651 $3,182,131 $3,616,177 Corks mfrd., Dutiable: │ $164,711 194,457 │ 2,070,672 2,440,399 2,370,527 │

EXPORTS

│Twelve Months ending December │ December │ 1912 1913 │ 1912 1913 │ Corkwood, Free: $2,960 — │ $34,404 $25,091 Corks mfrd., Dutiable: — $8,335 │ 5,552 5,392 │

A SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS ON CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

_Published by_

D. VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY 25 Park Place New York

=American Institute of Chemical Engineers.= Transactions. 8vo. cloth. Issued annually. Vol. I., 1908, to Vol. VI., 1913, now ready. each, =net, $6.00=

=Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry.= Issued annually by the Chemical Society. 8vo. cloth. Vol. I., 1904, to Vol. X., 1913, now ready. each, =net, $2.00=

=ASCH, W., and ASCH, D. The Silicates in Chemistry and Commerce.= Including the exposition of a hexite and pentite theory and of a stereo-chemical theory of general application. Translated, with critical notes and additions, by Alfred B. Searle. Illus. 6-3/4 x 10. cloth. 476 pp. =net, $6.00=

=ASHLEY, R. H. Chemical Calculations.= Illustrated. 5-1/4 x 7-1/2. cloth. 286 pp. =net, $1.50=

=BAILEY, R. O. The Brewer’s Analyst.= Illustrated. 8vo. cloth. 423 pp. =net, $5.00=

=BARKER, A. F., and MIDGLEY, E. Analysis of Woven Fabrics.= 85 illustrations. 5-1/2 x 8-3/4. cloth. 319 pp. =net, $3.00=

=BEADLE, C. Chapters on Papermaking.= Illustrated. 12mo. cloth. 5 volumes. each, =net, $2.00=

=BEAUMONT, R. Color in Woven Design.= A treatise on the science and technology of textile coloring (woolen, worsted, cotton and silk materials). _New Edition, rewritten and enlarged._ 39 colored plates. 367 illustrations. 8vo. cloth. 369 pp. =net, $6.00=

=BECHHOLD, H. Colloids in Biology and Medicine.= Translated by J. G. Bullowa, M.D. In Press.

=BEEKMAN, J. M. Principles of Chemical Calculations.= In Press.

=BENNETT, HUGH G. The Manufacture of Leather.= 110 illustrations. 8vo. cloth. 438 pp. =net, $4.50=

=BERNTHSEN, A. A Text-book of Organic Chemistry.= English translation. Edited and revised by J. J. Sudborough. Illus. 12mo. cloth. 690 pp. =net, $2.50=

=BERSCH, J. Manufacture of Mineral Lake Pigments.= Translated by A. C. Wright. 43 illustrations. 8vo. cloth. 476 pp. =net, $5.00=

=BEVERIDGE, JAMES. Papermaker’s Pocketbook.= Specially compiled for paper mill operatives, engineers, chemists and office officials. _Second and Enlarged Edition._ Illus. 12mo. cloth. 211 pp. =net, $4.00=

=BIRCHMORE, W. H. The Interpretation of Gas Analyses.= Illustrated. 12mo. cloth. 75 pp. =net, $1.25=

=BLASDALE, W. C. Principles of Quantitative Analysis.= An introductory course. 70 illus. 5-1/4 x 7-1/2. cloth. 404 pp. =net, $2.50=

=BLÜCHER, H. Modern Industrial Chemistry.= Translated by J. P. Millington. Illus. 8vo. cloth. 795 pp. =net, $7.50=

=BLYTH, A. W. Foods: Their Composition and Analysis.= A manual for the use of analytical chemists, with an introductory essay on the History of Adulterations. _Sixth Edition, thoroughly revised, enlarged and rewritten._ Illustrated. 8vo. cloth. 634 pp. =$7.50=

=—— Poisons: Their Effects and Detection.= A manual for the use of analytical chemists and experts, with an introductory essay on the Growth of Modern Toxicology. _Fourth Edition, revised, enlarged and rewritten._ Illustrated. 8vo. cloth. 772 pp. =$7.50=

=BÖCKMANN, F. Celluloid; Its Raw Material, Manufacture, Properties and Uses.= 49 illustrations. 12mo. cloth. 120 pp. =net, $2.50=

=BOOTH, WILLIAM H. Water Softening and Treatment.= 91 illustrations. 8vo. cloth. 310 pp. =net, $2.50=

=BOURCART, E. Insecticides, Fungicides, and Weed Killers.= Translated by D. Grant. 8vo. cloth. 500 pp. =net, $4.50=

=BOURRY, EMILE. A Treatise on Ceramic Industries.= A complete manual for pottery, tile, and brick manufacturers. A revised translation from the French by Alfred B. Searle. 308 illustrations. 12 mo. cloth. 488 pp. =net, $5.00=

=BRISLEE, F. J. An Introduction to the Study of Fuel.= A text-book for those entering the engineering, chemical and technical industries. 60 ill. 8vo. cloth. 293 pp. (Outlines of Industrial Chemistry.) =net, $3.00=

=BRUCE, EDWIN M. Detection of the Common Food Adulterants.= Illus. 12mo. cloth. 90 pp. =net, $1.25=

=BUSKETT, E. W. Fire Assaying.= A practical treatise on the fire assaying of gold, silver and lead, including descriptions of the appliances used. Illustrated. 12mo. cloth. 112 pp. =net, $1.25=

=BYERS, HORACE G., and KNIGHT, HENRY G. Notes on Qualitative Analysis.= _Second Edition, revised._ 8vo. cloth. 192 pp. =net, $1.50=

=CAVEN, R. M., and LANDER, G. D. Systematic Inorganic Chemistry from the Standpoint of the Periodic Law.= A text-book for advanced students. Illustrated. 12mo. cloth. 390 pp. =net, $2.00=

=CHRISTIE, W. W. Boiler-waters, Scale, Corrosion, Foaming.= 77 illustrations. 8vo. cloth. 242 pp. =net, $3.00=

=—— Water, Its Purification and Use in the Industries.= 79 illus., 3 folding plates, 2 colored inserts. 12mo. cloth. 230 pp. =net, $2.00=